Archives for
August 2011

America is obsessed with its social media tools -- more than half of all Americans have a social networking profile. But what does social media tell us about American society? Is our use of social tools a reflection of our interests and behaviors? So...

James Bond fans jonesing for some suave British espionage will be getting a (sort of) brand new GoldenEye this fall. Mashable got some hands-on time with an alpha build of GoldenEye 007: Reloaded, Activision's new first-person shooter video game base...

We've seen a number of iPad cases made from recycled materials, but this just tops the charts: iPad cases made from Bernie Madoff's salvaged clothing. Madoff is an incarcerated American felon, former stockbroker, investment advisor, non-executive cha...

The growth of mobile malware has skyrocketed in the past two years. Malware specific to Android devices in particular has been making headlines as of late. In March, Google removed 21 apps from the Android Market after the blog Android Police alerted...

After receiving user backlash over privacy for its newly launch "social ads," LinkedIn had announced changes to the ad formats. LinkedIn introduced its new social ad formats in June -- the Facebook-like ads integrate member activities and information...

Welcome to this morning's edition of “First To Know,” a series in which we keep you in the know on what’s happening in the digital world. We’re keeping our eyes on six particular stories of interest today. Google+ Games Going Live Google is rolling o...

A report from one Japanese website marks September 8 as the date of Apple's next media event, at which some expect the company to launch the iPhone 5. The company has historically released its new phones at its summer Worldwide Developers Conference ...

Thanks to this week’s advertisers and partners for enabling us to bring you the latest social media news and resources. Mashable's sponsors are as social media savvy as our readers! Advertise with us and get noticed. Mashable is seeking site sponsors...

Rovio, the maker of Angry Birds, is set to receive funding that would give the company a $1.2 billion valuation, according to a report. Citing "people with knowledge of the discussions," Bloomberg is saying that Rovio is considering taking the fundin...

The Chinese city of Kunming has stopped 22 fake Apple stores from using Apple's trademarks -- including its iconic logo -- after the company submitted a complaint to the local government. The crackdown began on August 2, according to a post from the ...

Prepare to feel old: 20 years ago, Nickelodeon launched Nicktoons, giving current 20- to 30-somethings enough common ground for a lifetime of awkward first conversations. Fanartica pays tribute to those much-loved cartoons, as well as a bevy of other...

A federal judge in Indiana has ruled that students who posted photos of themselves with penis-shaped lollipops on social networks should not have been punished by their school. "Not much good takes place at slumber parties for high school kids, and t...

On this day in 1981, IBM launched the "Personal Computer." Revealed at a press conference at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, the 21-pound PC cost $1,565, boasted 16K of memory, and had the ability to connect to a TV set, play games and word pro...

YouTube sensation Rebecca Black might have gone from anonymous California middle school student to online celebrity overnight, but that doesn't mean she isn't still bullied like millions of other kids. Black's viral song "Friday" has amassed more tha...

In a sign of growth for the technology, some 14 million people in the U.S. -- more than twice the population of Massachusetts -- used a QR code in June, according to a new report. Those people, representing 6.2% of the total mobile audience in the U....

Using Google+? Add Mashable to your circles. You'll get the latest about new Google+ features and tips and tricks for using the platform as well as top social media and technology news. Google+ has decided to ban the use of pseudonyms and nicknames i...

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos certainly does have an active imagination. He and Amazon VP Greg Hart have applied for a patent for protecting delicate, expensive smartphones from droppage by deploying a tiny airbag when the handset senses an imminent impact. ...

Patrick Salyer is CEO of Gigya. Gigya makes sites social by integrating a suite of plugins like Social Login, Social Analytics and Game Mechanics into websites. He can be reached on Twitter @patricksalyer. The term “permission marketing” seems pretty...

Sam Odio, a serial entrepreneur who previously sold his photo startup Divvyshot to Facebook, has manipulated Jonathan Stark's now-famous communal Starbucks Card to transfer $625 of the balance to his own Starbucks Card. In a blog post entitled, "How ...

Social gaming juggernaut Zynga will flip the switch later today on The Pioneer Trail, a new social adventure game within FrontierVille. Unlike all of Zynga's previous games, Pioneer Trail is a linear adventure with a set beginning and end. Users outf...

Seeing as you can already add your fetus to Facebook, this is probably foregone conclusion. Mashable Comics are illustrated every week by Kiersten Essenpreis, a New York-based artist who draws and blogs at YouFail.com. More Mashable Comics:...

We don't know about you, but by the time 3:30 p.m. ET rolls around on a Friday, we're dancing on the ceiling. Luckily for us (and you), that's about the time when our Summer Fridays Turntable.fm room gets into full swing. If you’re unfamiliar with Tu...

Netflix is testing a new "Just for Kids" interface that allows children to browse media by character. Select users who have the feature will notice a new tab on the main menu of their accounts between "Watch Instantly" and "Browse DVDs." It opens to ...

Donna Wells is the CEO of Mindflash.com, a leading web platform for companies to easily share knowledge and train employees. It makes training easier, faster and more cost-effective than ever before. These days, startups are using cloud-based busines...

In another setback for RIM and non-Apple tablets, Sprint Nextel has pulled its support for a PlayBook model that would have run on the carrier's 4G network. The move, prompted by lack of demand from business customers, was originally reported in The ...

Facebook and BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) are set to meet with Home Secretary Theresa May and other UK officials as the government investigates what roles the platforms played in organizing recent riots in London. When asked whether Twit...

Seeing that it's Friday, it's likely that your mental capacity has degraded to the point at which only one lucid thought can dwell in your mind. We're guessing that word is "cats." Yup, we've already had two YouTube Roundups centered around felines, ...

As part of an effort to support LGBT teens, an online campaign wants Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie -- the male puppet roommates with an Odd Couple-esque relationship -- to say "I do." The campaign includes a petition on Change.org and a Facebook Pag...

Jonathan Stark's feel-good social experiment mutated after entrepreneur Sam Odio repurposed $625 from Jonathan's Card onto a Starbucks Card of his own that he's selling in the name of charity. Odio, fielding both criticism and support from commenters...

Google has begun integrating Google+ into search results with public Google+ posts now appearing in Social Search. Whenever a user publicly shares a link on Google+, an annotation will show up under that link when it appears in a friend's search resu...

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is a leading source for news, information and resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's record 42 million unique visitors worldwide and 21 million social media followers are one of the most influential and engaged online communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.